The American flag flies over an Ortonville business. Display the flag found in today’s edition of The Citizen. Photo by Patrick McAbee.

By Ashley St. Aubin

Staff Writer

Put a spark in your Independence Day celebration on July 3 at the annual Ortonville fireworks show. The display is expected to begin at dusk (approximately 10:15 p.m.) behind Chase Bank, 761 Ortonville Road. The rain date will be July 4.

Parking can be found in the student lots of Brandon High School, MacPhee's Restaurant, and Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School. Parking will also be available at St. Anne Church for a fee.

The Chamber of Commerce raised almost $11,500 for the fireworks show, exceeding their goal of $7,000.

Wolverine Fireworks Company will again provide the show, which will be 30 minutes long.

Spectators should expect to see quite a display thanks to the generous donation of Kaz Mamon of BBB Transports. Mamon paid $500 for two opening shots to contribute to the show. "They will be the best two shots Ortonville has ever seen," said Chamber Trustee and Brandon Fire Chief Dave Kwapis.

Throughout the month of June, volunteers have been at Bueche's Food World accepting donations in firefighter boots and collection jars could be found at various businesses around town.

The chamber will also be collecting donations the day of the fireworks. Kwapis said that the funds collected on July 3 will benefit future Ortonville firework displays.

"It's a great show, and the largest community event in Ortonville," said Kwapis of the fireworks.

"All the school parking lots are typically packed and with July 4 in the middle of week and a lot of people home, we anticipate this year to be really packed."

For more information concerning the fireworks, call Dave Kwapis at 248-627-4000.